TMI organizes workshops and community consultations to improve local governance along Singalila

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: In early 2010, The Mountain Institute-India [TMI] initiated a case study on “Governance mechanisms to control illegal trade of wildlife & NTFPs in the Singalila range of the Khangchendzonga Landscape”.

A TMI release inform, with the support from International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, TMI-India has been organizing a series of “Awareness Workshop and Community Consultation on Improving Local Governance Mechanism for Biodiversity Conservation in the Singalila Range” since 2010 both in Western part of Sikkim and Singalila range of Darjeeling.
In the series, TMI-India organized workshops on 14 Sept 2011 at Uttarey and on 04 Dec 2011 at Ribdi Bhareng in West Sikkim. The primary objectives of these workshops were to create general awareness on reducing illegal trade of wildlife and NTFPs and to improve and strengthen local governance on reducing illegal collection from the forests and protected areas covering the Singalila Range in the Indian side.
Likewise, such awareness programmes have also been organized by an Ilam based NGO, Namsaling Community Development Centre (NCDC) in the Ilam, Pacththar and Taplejung districts of Nepal along the Singalila range in the Nepal side.
The participants in the workshop were mainly the local Gram Panchayat members, Himal Rakshaks, tour operators, tourist guides, Forest Department field officials, local NGOs, Ex-herders, and indigenous community members, EDC/JFMC members, home-stay and trekking operators, local farmers and women of West Sikkim, the release informs.
In these workshops, Program Manager, TMI-India, Dr. Ghanashyam Sharma has been sharing with the people the findings of the case studies that were carried out in the Singalila range on the governance issues related to illegal collection and trade across the trans-boundary corridor.
The findings reported that several cases of illegal trade of Wild flora and fauna and their derivatives was recorded, identified, and documented. TMI-India has submitted a report of this case study to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Forest Department, Government of Sikkim.
In the report, the institute has mentioned that illegal collection and trade of wildlife and NTFPs is silently taking place in the Singalila range, the release mentions. The institute has also categorically illustrated the underlying governance issues that demand immediate attention of institutions and organizations.
Since its inception in 2006, the Himal Rakshaks (Mountain Guardians) are frequently supported by TMI-India, WWF-India and Forest Department for organizing high altitude trekking in the Barsay Rhododendron Sanctuary area and Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve and adjoining areas for conducting strict vigilance and monitoring of forests, environment and wildlife in the cool temperate and alpine habitats.
They have been constantly motivating and sensitizing the local indigenous communities, herders, porters, tour operators, and home-stay operators on conservation of Himal areas. Two such treks were organized between 01 and 12 Nov 2011, both in Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR) and Barsay Rhododendron Sanctuary (BRS) area on the Indian side of the Singalila range.
According to the release, wildlife conservator, NB Chettri and his fellow Himal Rakshaks reported that they found grazing in the Kalijhar, Thulodhap, Gosa, Chitrey in BRS and in Gomathang, Yangshep, Pangden and Garakhet in KBR.  Similarly, traps laid for killing Pheasants, Himalayan Tahr, Must Deer, Blue Sheep etc. were found in Terchey, Aaley, Kanchopatey, Ratopani, and Satabhaiya area.
They also reported that they found several pug marks of snow leopard and flocks of wild animals such as Himalayan Tahr and Musk deer. They revealed in their discussion that herders from Nepal are active in the Sikkim side.  They have been constantly reporting such information to the Forest Department officials in West Sikkim.
TMI-India held rigorous group discussions on the current issues and possible solutions from the government and other agencies.  One of the major issues discussed was man-animal conflict and wildlife intrusion in the human settlements and subsequent damage of crops.
The local and indigenous community had a long discussion on this issue and they concluded that the State Forest Department has to bring about a policy supported by a regulation that the compensation of crop or property damaged by wildlife within human settlements should be equal to that of forest acts and laws and subsequent punishments imposed on humans for illegal activities carried out in the forest or wildlife related activities, the release informs.
The participants also appealed that the relief provided to a few community members of few villages is insufficient and does not compensate the extent of damage caused by wild animals in their farms. Thus, the local and indigenous community members in the group discussion reiterated that the Forest Department Government of Sikkim has to develop a mechanism to permanently solve this problem through appropriate policies under the regulatory framework, the release adds.
Man-animal conflict and crop damage due to wildlife such as Himalayan Black Bear, Monkeys, Wild Boar, Deer and Porcupine has emerged as a major problem to communities of all the fringe villages of the forest areas and Protected Areas throughout West Sikkim. The participants during the group discussion proposed the construction of a concrete wall in fencing, separating the human settlement from the protected areas.
The release further mentions that as a possible compensatory mechanism to the man-animal conflict, the local communities of Ribdi, Bhryang, Uttarey, and Hee-bermiok emphasized on the opening up of at least seven trekking routes within Indian side and also across the border towards Nepal for developing ecotourism activities. This activity will bring about new avenues and opportunities for local people for strengthening their economic condition and employment to the unemployed, they argued. They have been requesting the respective government departments for making it possible.
For effective information sharing on reducing the illegal collection of wildlife, NTFPs, or information related to biodiversity, forest fire, grazing, etc. two core groups have been formed one at Uttarey and one in Ribdi-Bharyang in West Sikkim, the release informs. The group consists of members of Himal Rakshaks, JFMCs/EDCs, Panchayats, Ex-herders, representative from Forest Department, representative from GB Pant Institute, BMC, local NGOs, TMI-India, Women Groups and tour and trekking operators.